DALTON, Ga. - A new state rule barring college presidents from granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants was lambasted Tuesday at a public hearing about the new interpretation of state and federal laws.

The overwhelming majority of students, teachers and residents who spoke at the meeting at Dalton State College blasted a decision by the University System of Georgia instructing college presidents not to grant the waivers to undocumented students. The waiver would allow them to pay much lower in-state tuition rates.

Critics of the change said it would punish students, many of whom have lived in Georgia for years, for the illegal actions taken by their parents when entering the country. They said the students usually have a record of high academic achievement despite having to learn English and adapt to American culture at the same time.

The hearing, the first of four the system plans to hold around the state this month, was technically concerned with whether the State Board of Regents made the right call in interpreting federal law and a state law passed last year. College presidents have been told to stop issuing the waivers as of July 1.

But the meeting, which drew about 75 people, often veered into the emotional territory of the policy's impact on the students involved.

"The day when those students see their dreams destroyed, they are going to be destroyed with their dreams as well," said Jose Cifuentes, a resident who spoke at the hearing. "In a sense, it is going to be a Holocaust."

The few speakers who turned out to support the policy, though, said continuing to give the waivers to undocumented students would reward people who illegally entered the country.

Other hearings are scheduled for today in Clarkston, Friday in Tifton and Monday in Gainesville.

Reach Brandon Larrabee at (678) 977-3709 or brandon.larrabee@morris.com.

speaking out At Dalton State College, this year's commencement speech was delivered by Azucena Rodriguez, a legal immigrant. She was, according to a campus newsletter, the second student ever selected to give the annual graduation remarks. She joined several others Tuesday in saying the proposed policy would deprive some immigrants of being able to give back. "We want the best for this country," she said. "We love this country, and we want to contribute to the betterment of this society." - Associated Press